'Believe I deserved it today' – Norris reflects on losing Spanish GP victory after ill-timed VSC

Lando Norris believes he "deserved" victory in the Spanish Grand Prix, as an ill-timed Virtual Safety Car contributed to the McLaren driver finishing only third at the chequered flag.

The reigning World Champion started on pole for Formula 1's first race at the Madring and, after rebuffing fellow front-row starter Kimi Antonelli at Turn 1, he built up a comfortable lead in the opening stages.

But Lance Stroll finding the run-off area at Turn 20 prompted a Virtual Safety Car on Lap 15, just as Norris had passed the pit lane entrance, while Antonelli and Max Verstappen pitted behind.

By the time Norris had completed another lap the VSC ended as he headed into the pit lane, where a slow stop meant the Briton lost further time and rejoined down in P5.

It all culminated in Norris challenging Verstappen in the closing laps but falling short of victory to Antonelli by just five seconds.

"The VSC came out after I was already round the last corner," he assessed after the race. "The others were very fortunate today or I was unfortunate, whichever way round you want to look at it.

"Of course, I believe I deserved it today. We did a very good job, I feel like I did everything right this weekend so for it to be lost like today is just pretty crappy.

"It's F1, the race should be won by the best performance and good strategy, maybe going long, things like that.

"Today was just a rule that just benefits some people a lot more than other people. I know that's racing, so I can't be too against it.

"If it was the other way round of course it would suit me, but when I feel like I've driven a perfect weekend and I did such a good job yesterday, and I feel like I did a great job today, it hurts. Nothing I can do."

After a sluggish start under the new-for-2026 regulations, McLaren and Norris have hit their stride this season, with the reigning world champions having taken back-to-back wins in Hungary and Holland, as well as three pole positions from the last four races.

Team Principal Zak Brown had suggested that the title was still possible ahead of the race in Madrid, but the gap now stands at 106 points to Antonelli in the drivers' standings with nine Grands Prix remaining.

"It's only positives this weekend. Apart from I didn't think we were quick enough all weekend until today. I think today we were the best," added Norris.

"As you've seen quite often on Sundays, we take a good step. On Saturdays we're just not where we need to be. We need to understand more what we can do on Saturday.

"I still don't think we have the car that's in a perfect enough condition to fight consistently against the others on Saturday.

"But it seems like on Sunday, the way I drive, the way I can look after the tyres and get lap time out of it, it's giving me a lot of opportunities and I can do a better job than the others.

"That's what's frustrating, there's only positives I can take away from this weekend, there's still things we can work on but we're just very unlucky."